Invalid lift and transfer device



April 8, 1947. R. N. SMITH INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE 5Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Sept. 18, 1944 A2 /V/ c/oL 5M/7'H,

' INVENTOR rag/ 4L 7474M ArToRA/Ex April 8, 1947. R.- SMITH 2,413,606

INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1944 s Sheet-Sheet 2Arm/max Patented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE INVALID LIFTAND TRANSFER DEVICE Ralph Nichol Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 18, 1944, Serial No. 554,663

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hydraulic lifting devices, and moreparticularly to appliances for supporting, raising, transporting,transferring to other supporting means, and otherwise eificaciouslyservicing sick or injured persons.

A principal object of my invention is to furnish supporting means uponwhich a patient may be placed and removed therefrom with a minimum ofmovement, pain, and assistance, and when so supporting will allowexercise of the natural body (3) To provide supporting means upon which7 the patient may remain for long periods of time in maximum comfort;

(4) To provide means for moving patients to and from various parts of ahospital, and which will require little extra storage space when not inuse;

(5) To furnish means for the support of various appliances used in thecare and treatment of patients;

(6) To provide a simple unified control of the lifting means, thusleaving the attendants hands free to attend patient or doctor.

Physical conditions of hospital patients vary greatly in their nature.In view of this, means for handling must of necessity be also variable,both in combination and separatelyin order to be of adequate service.For this vital reason my appliance is necessarily divided into parts orspecies, some of which may be used independently,

or, when used in combination, form parts of the whole. It will bereadily understood that any basic support for the attainment of theforegoing objects must be of very strong, rigid construction; while itis obvious that the primary means used 'for getting the patient upon theheavy base must be extremely light and easily adaptable to the bedposition and condition of the body. It will also be seen that while thebasic support mustbe of permanent construction and design, theattachments which it supports may be various and more or less temporaryboth in design and construction, in order to be adaptable to the case inhand.

With the foregoing and other objects in View,

reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a caster-mounted frame, the base ofwhich is adapted to extend under a hospital bed and the vertical liftingmembers and laterally collapsible elements to sustain a torso orbody-supporting panel or frame;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, butshowing in solid lines upper members of the frame in collapsed position,and in dotted lines such collapsible elements in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a panel torso support with service opening;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of end mem'bers'of the frame as shown in Fig.1 in bed-side position, the relative position of the bed beingillustrated in dotted lines, and also depicting in dotted linesmanipulation of the panel shown in Fig 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of hook-on panel extension for full lengthbody support;

Fig. 6 is an end view in partial section. of the frame in bed-sideposition, showing a modified form of crane arm and sling support;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a modified form of body support;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of still another form of body support;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the body support taken on line 9-9 of Fig.8;

Fig. 10 is a view in partial section of the hydraulic control valve andpart of its manipulating meanssuperimposed upon oil reservoir;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of control valve taken on line |l-l| of Fig.10, showing valve member in center position, both control ports fullyopen.

Fig. 12 is a similar sectional view, showing valve member 60 fullyclosing entrance to pipe 49, entrance to pipe 48 being fully open;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line l 3-l3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of valve member 60 Referring to thedrawings in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar partsthroughout the several views, and particularly for the moment to Fig. 1:Members of a base, comprising ends I 5|5 and their longitudinalconnecting member iii, are secured by any means well known in the art atcontiguous ends adjacent to lower portions, respectively, of verticaltubular members l8|8, said base being supported on casters l9-l9.

Tubular members I8,-|8 arealso held in verannular packing 23, well knownin the art. Upper ends of vertical tubular members i8i8 are annularlyenlarged to house ball bearings 2d so placed to prevent binding underload Ends of tubular rams 2i2l (Fig. 4) extend above upper ends ofverticaltubular members l8l8, respectively; and hollow cylindrical fit-,

sp acejdjfro m their respective vertically supported ends, withapreferably integral vertically bored lug, 28, to each of which isloosely pivotally attached by a suitable pin (not nurnbered) anadjoining end of one, of rods 29', the innerends, res ctively, of eachof which rods 29, after passhroughj concentric bore in'the adjacent endor' losure cap i) of tube 3i, telescope within tube 3i. Each. of,extensions of rods 29 within tube '51 is. lended w h' n nn la i ,2 tovent it's retraction from telescoped' relation, thus to limitestensibility, of the assemblage of telescoping members 29-23 and, 3,i.,3l Inner ends "of"'r'ods'29 seat respectivel upon an adjoining endofone of helical springs-33. .3,3; inner ends of said springs each beingseated on an appropriate stop,(r 1ot numberedlwithin said tube 3|. Theouter side of right crane arm. 2 ,61 isprovidedwith a pair of.spaced-apart sl'o'ts 363l, which slots each have. a longitudinalextension dotted lines in Fig 1)' Within said aid, slots. 39/functioning to receive n rnbers titre-55hr attachment and sup.- port anobvious manner, of a, panel extens'i new; asillustrated in Fig. 5 ofthedrawings,

. lugs s. ss.

n iPerspectiv ely, the hydraulic lifting operating nieanslare depictedin Fig. 1, details of construction'thereof being illustrated in Figs. 6,11, 1 2 13 and 14, and will now be described.

and, which may, be made of wood, light metal,

hydraulic fluid reservoir which is in communication through pipe ll!with the interior of pump cylinder M, which cylinder contains a pumppiston (which, being well known, need not be fur-. ther described), therod of which piston extends through an appropriate packing gland (notshown in detail) through the opposite end of pumpcylinder ll. Above saidprotruding end of said piston rod there is rigidly attached to "anadjoining end of said-pump cylinder diva bracket 42, the outer end ofsaid bracket being bifurcated as shown at $3, between which bifurcationsis pivoted, by an appropriate pin (not numbered), pedal bar Mi. .Eelowthe point of pivoting of pedal bar id, said bar at is provided with adownwardextension (not numbered), to which is pivotally attached" theprotruding end of said Referring first to Fig l which showsmjo-stclearly thec'o'mplete assemblageit indicates a pump piston rod. Pedalbar 44 is normally held in uppermost position by coil spring it, itsupper movement onrelease of the pedal retracting the pump piston. Y

Through the opposite end of pump cylinder 41 pipe-conduit 46communicates With a valve chamber (later to be described) in valve houing All (details of valve operating means to be later described) andsaid chamber in said housingt ll" communicates by pipe conduits 48 and69 with respective hydraulic chambers 22--.22 below rams 2I-.2i withinvertical tubularmemr bers l-8l8.

Still referring to the general, assemblage of hydraulic lifting meansshown in Fig. 1 Tubular valve stem 5,!) extends through a packing 58aand through hous ng cap, 41a of the valve chamher (later described) androtatably 'throughan appropriate bore in member 20 of the supportingframe, to the upper end of which valve stem Eii'is rigidly attached (byany well-known means) operating lever-handle 5|, which latter is,provided with springmeans 52 (Fig.10) Well known in the art and not indetail illustrated, to) re,- siliently engage in slots in arcuate member53, the latter being carried; on the upper, surface of frame member. 2df54l1 igs. ljOand 13) is an operating pedal for relieving hydraulicpressure in hydraulic lifting chambersv 22-22 tolowerpa'nelsupportingmembers of the frame.

In Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are illustrated details. of. valvemechanismwithin, valve housin 4.1. .In F s. ,0 11; a l lzth ip 46 froBored passage: 56 (Figs. 11 and 12).is enlarged adjacent its ends, toform. compartments. for ball check valves 5 'l.-'.51., each of whichlatter, re,- spectively, is normally pressed, upon: its Seat (010s ingits. respective end. of passage) lay-helical springs 5-87.58, which.latter.- arerrespectively, seated, on. one of annular rims-v 5&,5 9.,Valve member 60 (shownperspectively i'nfFig. 149 mm,- prisesa, circularhead 6 I. having extending. down;- fwardly from it's perir gher-y and ofthesameoutsid radius ashead 6i, a fiange. '62, of uniform ,width asegment of which flange is cut away as at 63in, providea; fluidpassage.- Concentric with head 6| of valve 60 extends upwardlytubuglag;- valve stern 5ll, ;which;passes. through ya; suitable packing5M, and thence upward through cap 41a of valve casing 41, as mostclearly shown in Figs. 1, and 13.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is illustrated the rotative movement of valve member60 by which the cutaway portion 63 (shown most clearly in Fig. 14) ofits segmental flange provides, partially or wholly, optional opening(controlled by the manipulating handle 5|) for communication throughpipe conduits 48 and 49, respectively, with the hydraulic chambers22-22.

Referring particularly to Figs, 11, 12 and 13: Drain conduit 64communicates at each of. its ends 65-65, respectively, with boredpassage 56, and, through port 66 (Fig. 13), communicates through pipe6'! with hydraulic fluid reservoir 39.

Within tubular valve stem 56 (as most clearly' shown in Fig. 13)needle-valve '68 slidingly fits, annular packing ring 69 around saidneedlevalve 68 permitting sliding movement of the valve, butpreventingleakage of pressure fluid. Said needle-valve 68 is adapted toseat on the bevel (not numbered) around port 66. Pedal bar 10 is pivotedto lug N (Fig. 13) which latter is preferably integral with valve casingcap 41a. The inner end of pedal bar 10, which extends through anaperture 562), as shown in Fig. 14, in tubular valve stem 59, is securedby link 72 to the upper end of needle-valve 68. Needlevalve 68 isnormally held seated over port 66 by helical spring 13 within tubularvalve stem 59, the lower end of spring 13 being seated on the upper sideof the inner end of pedal bar 19, and the upper end of spring t3 beingseated on a, pin M which extends through an appropriate bore throughwalls of tubular valve stem 59 in which it is secured by any means wellknown in the art.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a supplemental frame and sling support inwhich 15 indicates a crane-arm, the lower end of which is rotatablytelescoped into the upper end of ram 2|, and

which is vertically supported in telescoped relation on the upper end ofram 2| and upon fitting 25 by. an annular flange 16. Obviously each oframs 2| as shown in Fig. 1 are provided with l a like crane arm 15, sothat upper ends of said crane arm 15 may swing toa position over the bed(indicated in dotted lines) or outward from the side of the bed.

Crane arms 15 are formed with hooks 11 adjacent their upper ends, fromeach of which hooks 11-11 is suspended a sling of heavy cord, the tworeaches 18-18 of which are spaced apart by passing through slots orholes (not numbered) in the ends of spacing bar 19. Lower ends of eachcord 18 has attached to it a hook 80 which is adapted to engage sides ofa supporting panel (such; for instance, as illustrated in Figs. 7 or 8)the contour of the patient supported by the sling being indicated (Fig.6) by dotted lines.

Figs. 3, 7 and 8 illustrate alternate forms of body-supporting panels,each designed as a special form of litter for the support of a patient,and each adapted while so supporting to be raised, lowered, transferredor transported on crane arms 26-26 and their appurtenances as shown inFig. 1 of the drawings hereof, the specific forms of suchbody-supporting panels illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 being particularlyalso designed for such manipulation by the crane-arm and sling supportillustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated an approximately torsolength supporting panelcomprising a rectangular strip 8| of sheet metal, plywood, plastic, orother suitable material having service opening 82 and hand holes 83-83.Where, when using the torso length support of Fig. 6, full length bodysupport is desired for transportation or transference, the extensionpanel 84 illustrated in Fig.5 is slipped under the patients legs beforeraising, its hookon members 35-35 being attached to crane arm 26 asheretofore described. i

In Fig. 4 of the drawing a method of use of torso-supporting panel 8|(Fig. 3) is illustrated. Crane arms 26-26 with their connecting membersbeing opened and lowered to rest upon the bed-mattress (the latter beingshown in dotted lines), and the patient being rolled toward the oppositeside of the bed. resting on his side at the edge of the frame supportingmeans, pane1 8| is then placed in semi-vertical position (as shown indotted lines in Fig. 4) its service opening approximating the patient,and the patient is then rolled onto panel 8| which is coincidentallylowered in the direction indicated by the arrows in said Fig. 4 until itrests upon crane arms 26-26.

The form of body support shown in Fig. 7 is designed for those patientswho are badly injured and require raising and lowering with as littlebody disturbance as possible. In this form each of side members 85 and86 of a long rectangular frame, preferably of metal tubing, are providedadjacent their respective ends with short lateral extensions 67 and 88,circular in cross section and adapted to telescope within correspondingends, respectively, of end frame members 89 and 99. A sheet of fabric ofany suitable material (such as canvas) of long rectangular form is cutto form spaced-apart strips 9l-9I, connected at outer ends by acontinuous portion of the fabric which is Wrapped around and sewed toframe member 36 by obvious means well known in the art. Adjacent eachend corner of each ofstrips 9|, shanks of spring hook members 92-92,(well known in the art, and which need not be further described) aresecured, opposite ends being formed to hook over side member 85, thespring (not numbered) intervening the shank of the hook member servingto provide a longitudinal resilience of the hook member. The techniqueof the use of the body support shown in Fig. 7 is as follows: Sidemember 86, with its attached fabric strips 9| bunched, is placed at oneside of the patient, and each strip 9| is separately slipped under thebody of. the patient and drawn snug. The frame end members 89 and 90 arethen slipped beneath the patient and telescoped over lateral extensions88 respectively. Said frame member is now placed parallel with thehookcarrying ends of strips 9|, and the hooks of members 92-92 areplaced over side member 85, which is pulled outward to permit lateralextensions 81-8! to telescope within adjacent respective end members 89and 90.

In Figs. 8 and 9 are shown another alternate form of body support inwhich the rigid tubular frame is divided into parts 93-94, which may bejoined by socket members 99. Torso supporting frame 93 is crossed byrigid or semi-rigid band members 95-95 secured at their respective endsby any means well known in the art, as illustrated in dotted lines inplan in Fig. 8, a short slip-covered pad 96 of aerated latex or otherresilient material being placed over and supported by said cross members95. When full length support of the patient is desired, frame part 94may be slipped into place as shown in Fig. 8, the legs of the patientbeing supported by the spaced-apart strips 91-91 of fabric, such ascanvas or the like, ends of which carry members 98-98 adapted to 2 BEDSI The operation of the hydraulic lifting means is as follows: Assuming,first, that it is desired to raise rams 2l2l equally, operating handleBI is placedin} central position, thus moving valve member 60 inposition shown in Fig. 11 with ingress or hydraulic fluid into pipes 49and 49 fully open. The pump piston in cylinder. ll h'as been spaced apredetermined distance between th ends of cylinder 4! and with aconventional ball check valve (not shown) closing pipe Ml from hydraulicfluid reservoir 9, pipes 43 and 49 of two respective hydraulic fiuidlifting chambers and cylinder 41 on its reservoir side being filledwith-hydraulic fluid, a downward stroke of pedal 45-will force hydraulicfluid through pipe 46 and passage 56-, unseating ball check valves 51,and then through the ends of passage 56 and through pipes 48 and 49 inequal quantities below each of rams 21, thus, the weight upon rams beingequal, their upward movement will also be equal. Weight differentialupon rams 2! may be readily compensated by partial closure of passage 56to'- the lighter side by rotation of valve member 60; while thecompleteclosing of passage 56, as shown Fig. 12, at either end asdesired makes the jack operation at the opposite end entirelyindependent regardless of the weight upon it,

thusallowing either the head or feet of the patient to be raised orlowered at will. The springmeans 45, heretofore described, after releaseofsuch-depression of pedal 44- will return the pump piston to itsinitial position, and in doing so will pump a new charge of hydraulicfluid into the pump cylinder, the hydraulic fluid in' the hydrauliclifting chambers and connecting conduits being prevented from returningto the pump cylinder by ball check valves (not shewn, but well'know'n inthe art) within valve chamber 47". Such-first depression of the pedalwill raise the rams 21 a distance measured by the amount oi i luid whichhas by the first pedal depression: been forced beneath them. With eachsucceeding depression and release of pedal 45,.an additional volume of:pressure will be forced into the lifting chambers, further'raising therams 2 1-2 i When, after having-been equally raised, it is desired toequally lower each or rams 2| and the frame supported by them, the valvemember 62 being in the position shown in Fig. 11, pedal 54 is depressed,opening needle valve 68 which permits (while the needle valve is ofi itsseat) the? fluid in. the lifting chamber 22-22 below-rams. iii-2| andwithin" pipe conduits 48 and 49 to" flow backthrough drain conduit 6-4,through pipe 61, and intoffluidreservoir 39: Obviously, release of pedal54 will result; in closing needle valve 68, and will stop the drain backtothefiuid reservoir. Iffoun'd desirable to lower one arm while holdingthe position of the other, valve member 62 may be movedby operating han.dle'5l to wholly or partially close the appropriate side of the'drainline.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of. the character described, a base supported on casters,a plurality of vertical-1y extending tubular members supported on saidbase, a plurality. of crane arms, a plurality of members,- eachrotatably telescoping within one'of' said tubular members, and eachrigidly attached at its upper end to an adjoining end of one of saidcrane arms, and means adiust= ably connecting a plurality of saidcr'an'earins to permit their relative'movement inan'arc with respect totheir respective tubular members.

2. In" a device ofthe character described, a hollow vertical standard, ahydraulic ram tele scope within said standard, and a crane arm rigidlyattached to an upper end of said ram and adapted to rotate with said ramin an arc with respect to said ho'llow vertical standard.

3.111 a device of the character described, a base, a pair of tubularmembers, supported on' said base, a pair of rams, eachrespectivelytelescoped into one of said tubular .members and rotatable with respectthereto, a pair of crane arms, each of said crane arms being rigidlyattached to an upper end of one of said'rams, means resilientlyconnecting said crane arms, and a body-supporting panel adapted to besupported on saidcrane arms.

R; NICHOL SMITH.

precursors CITED The following references are of recordin the me of thispatent? V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,354,693 Martin Aug.1, 1944 2,319,347 Reed May 18, 1943 808,785 Thompson ;Jan. 2, 19061,823,890 Ettinger Sept. .22, .1931 1 1,094,117 Butler 1;- Apr,2-1,'1914 2,218,883 Jones Oct. 22,- 1940 2,951,536 Parmley Aug; 18,- 19361,033,277 Seasliole July 23, 1912 924,754 Fos'dick June15',1909'2,234,483 Suttlo measur n Mar. I1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Gountry Date29,364 Danish Feb. 20, 1922

